Amidst the serene beauty of
the majestic Rocky Mountains of Colorado lies the third most endangered
river in the United States: the 40-mile-long Fraser River.This river is the first tributary to the
famous Colorado River and is one of the primary potable water sources
for the folks who reside in the small communities there.The Fraser River is also a perfect habitat
for several distinct types of fish since it provides them with a clean
water environment – a luxury found in too few localities
around the globe.

Five of the six Pacific Salmon
species spawn in the Fraser River and its tributaries.This includes rainbow trout, ocean-going
steelhead trout, and the official Colorado State Fish (and endangered
species) cutthroat trout. Sturgeon
abound in the waters as well, and thanks to recent catch and release
regulations, these
prehistoric monsters are now being preserved for future generations.
Yes, the Fraser River is a first-class angler's destination. It
has attracted people from all over the world, most notably, the late
President Dwight D.
Eisenhower.

President Eisenhower was born in
Denison, Texas and
raised in Abilene, Kansas.He
graduated from West Point in 1915 and married Mamie Doud of Denver,
Colorado in 1916.He
rose to the rank of Five Star General and was the Supreme Allied
Commander during World War II. He became the Commander in
Chief of NATO Forces in 1950.

General Eisenhower
was so popular and well-respected that both the Democratic
and Republican parties courted him to be their Presidential candidate.
He accepted the Republican nomination and was elected President of the
United States in 1952

President Eisenhower was also
an avid sportsman.His
two favorite
hobbies were golf and fly-fishing. The State of Colorado was perfect
for both
activities.Given
that fact, he made
many trips to Denver and surrounded himself with a small group of
friends referred
to as “The Gang” that included rancher Aksel
Neilsen.

Due to
the nearness of the
Nielsen Ranch, the Fraser Valley in Colorado became one of President
Eisenhower’s most loved getaways.While
at the ranch, the President enjoyed vacationing in a small cabin and
cooking his
specialties - trout and steaks broiled over the coals.On several occasions, he remarked that he was
most relaxed while fly-fishing the Fraser River or St. Louis Creek.

The
people of the small
mountain community
accepted and adored him, but were sure to give him his privacy while he
was
there.From
time to
time, other famous
individuals joined the President on the stream as well, including
Richard
Nixon, General Lucius Clay, and James Hagerty.During one notable trip to the Fraser Valley in
1954, President Eisenhower
signed the bill that established the United States Air Force Academy.Very few communities can
lay claim to having
been a favorite vacation home to the “Leader of the Free
World”.He
is by far the Fraser River Valley’s most
famous fly-fisherman!

Given this remote
locale’s remarkable
facts, the Rotarians of Grand County, Colorado have united to fund a
project
that will highlight the importance of clean water, not just in the
Fraser River
Valley but throughout the world.Most
of
us are fortunate to have grown up with drinkable water readily
available in our
own homes, but there are still many communities in the world where
potable
water is scarce or even non-existent.

The
proposed project will
raise funds to construct a memorial at a prominent site alongside the
Fraser
River.The tribute
will consist of an eight-foot
bronze monument in President Eisenhower’s likeness with
commemorative bricks
flowing up and around it in resemblance of the stream.The finished monument will be located near
the bank of the Fraser River in Fraser, Colorado where it will be
accessible to
the public for reverence and educational purposes.

Presently, the bronze statue
is being created by Howard Neville, an accomplished sculptor who lives
nearby
in Grand Lake, Colorado.Mr.
Neville has
done other life-size sculptures of famous Americans including John
Wayne and
Glenn Miller.

His
vision is to create a
glimpse into the lesser-known life of President Eisenhower - a split
second of
action as the President nets a beautiful Colorado trout.The image will resemble a
photograph taken of
the late President that can be found at the Dwight D. Eisenhower
Library and
Museum in Abilene, Kansas (copy shown on right).

Sculptor
Howard Neville

Mr.
Neville will publicly create
the bronze in the lobby of the Fraser branch of Grand Mountain Bank.
Visitors,
student classrooms, and other interested groups are welcome to observe
his
work.The estimated
completion date is
March 2007.

Thirty-six
handsome quarter-scale
miniatures of the eight-foot original will be created by the sculptor
as
well.One will be
given to the Dwight D.
Eisenhower Library in Abilene, and another one will be placed in the
Eisenhower
section of the Grand County Historical Museum in Fraser.

The remaining
commemorative miniatures may be
purchased by interested parties for a $4,000 donation.Approximately 70% of those proceeds will go
towards actual creation and completion of the project.

Many
other giving categories
are available as well.They
are as
follows:

Up to
$99Thank
you card plus “I Like Ike” button

$100
- $249Engraved
brick on river bank

$250
- $499Engraved
brick on river border

$500
- $999Engraved
brick (darker color creating the stream)

$1000
- $2400Name on plaque that
accompanies the sculpture

$2500
and upEngraved boulder in
stream

Additionally,
donations can be designated as you wish:

50% Monument and 50%
Potable Water For The World

100% Monument

100%
Potable Water For The World

We
welcome your help in
completing this project.Donations
of
all sizes will be greatly appreciated.

Please
send to:

WP-FV
Rotary Club
PO Box 745,
Winter Park, Colorado, 80482.

Checks
should be written out to “Eisenhower Project”.

Other groups and individuals
are encouraged to join us in our endeavors to promote this cause.For more information,
please email us at: Info@WPFV-Rotary.org.